Calvin Johnson saga another example of Lions mismanagement

Are the Lions righting the course?

It has been a long journey for Lions fans. Losing for 60 plus years and then alienating two of their iconic players and watching as fans around the league have thrown shade at Detroit for destroying the careers of their star players.

These are allegations no one in the Lions hierarchy can argue with.

Yet the final tale might just be a tale about how this franchise is finally finding itself and perhaps even righting the course.

That is the Matthew Stafford story. As we all know Matthew asked to be traded since he could not bear another rebuild. In response, his request was granted and Matthew is now a member of the Los Angeles Rams who are one of the preseason favorites to make a run at the Super Bowl.

While many fans were overwhelmed at the loss of Stafford, almost all of them realized that it was in his best interest and the best interest of the Lions for them to part ways.

The Lions are in need of rebuilding this roster. They have a talented young general manager and an energetic new coach that share the same vision and have dove in head-first to the rebuilding process.

In general, everyone is happy. However, unlike Barry and Calvin who are and will be forever immortalized as Detroit Lions, if Matthew leads the Rams to a Super Bowl title, we should be ready for the fact that if he follows Barry and Calvin to Canton, it will most likely be in a Rams uniform, despite holding all of the Lions passing records.

But even so, the Lions did the right thing to grant Matthew his wish and try to build this team right.

Sheila Ford Hamp has shown more drive and effort than her parents did as stewards of the Detroit Lions. It is no foregone conclusion that she will be able to reconcile the differences between Calvin and her team.

However, her willingness to allow Matthew to leave and pursue greener pastures as well as all the work she has put into bringing in the new regime of Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell and giving them all the support they need to build a winner speaks volumes.

No team has been more mismanaged than the Detroit Lions. However, Sheila, Brad, and Dan have an opportunity to change how this franchise is managed. They have an opportunity to build a winner, mend the fences with Calvin Johnson and turn over a new leaf.

If they are able to successfully do so moving forward, it can only mean good things for the Lions and their fans.